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Fox roared with anger and la
shed out, striking her, throwing her backwards with the ferocity of his blow.
She landed flush against the rock face.
She cried out. Pain shot up her back, her skin stinging wildly.
She grappled for purchase with damp hands, her fingers sliding on the mossy surface of the rock face. When she looked back, Cullen had his sword at Fox’s throat.
“No! Not that again.” Remembering what happened in the marketplace, Sunny wasn’t taking any more risks. Especially not with Mr. Creepy Weirdo Timelord here.
The men negotiated, shouting above the roar of the wind.
“I have never known you strike a woman before,” Cullen bellowed.
“Step aside, Cullen. Let’s see what the lass will do to keep your sorry hide.”
Cullen growled.
“Put aside your weapon,” she cried out. “Viscount, why not transfer his passage to the next ship?”
Fox lifted his hand. “Now we’re talking. You’re willing to do a deal?”
Dig deeper, Sunny told herself. She was determined to keep quizzing him, to find out his motives. “Perhaps. What if I wanted to keep him a while?”
Fox licked his lips. “What are you willing to offer in exchange?”
Sunny hadn’t a clue what he might want, so she threw it back at him. “What’s on your table?”
The wind suddenly dropped, the clouds dissipating.
Fox tapped his fingertips against his chin as if he were enjoying the negotiation. “How about an agreed exchange of time?”
Sunny swallowed. She quickly glanced at Cullen. He nodded, as if he understood. It was more than she did, but she did want him to stay with her. “Cullen stays with me.”
“How long are we talking? A week? Ten days?”
She had no idea what she was letting herself in for, but something pushed her on. She didn’t feel as if she had a lot of choice. She nodded. “Thirty days. Cullen must stay by my side for thirty days.”
Fox’s smile made her blood run cold.
“Agreed. And then you must stay by my side for thirty days.”
A yawing chasm of uncertainty opened at her feet and she wavered. “Wait!” she demanded. “I didn’t mean here, I mean in 2020. We can’t stay here, where Cullen is seen as a criminal.”
Fox shrugged. “I’ll let you find your way back there. I’m sure you have the ability to figure it out...if not, oh dear. But, given your heritage...”
Beyond Fox, the sky cleared and she could no longer see the galleon clearly. The outline of the ship was fading, and it appeared as it had done before with white sails and tall masts above a wooden vessel and calm seas.
“She has made a worthy sacrifice for you, Cullen.”
Cullen looked at her and shook his head. “I’ll not let you do this for me.”
“I’m afraid the deal is done. Enjoy the wench while you can, old friend. For I intend to, when my time comes.”
“I didn’t mean...” Sunny stalled, the denial on her lips wasted.
Fox raised his hand, silencing her. “Oh, I have more to ask of you than a quick tumble, my dear, as you’ll soon discover.”
